Lord Howell visits Malaysia

This news article was published under
the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Minister of State responsible for Commonwealth issues and international energy policy is to meet with several Malaysian ministers.

Lord Howell meets with staff.

Rt Hon Lord David Howell, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office visits Malaysia today (11th August). It marks the first visit by a British Minister under the new coalition government.

As the Minister of State responsible for Commonwealth issues and international energy policy, he will meet Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who chairs the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group, Datuk Shafie Apdal, Chairman of Commonwealth Parliamentarian (CPA), Datuk Peter Chin, Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water and Datuk Richard Riot, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Lord Howell said:

I welcome the current review of the Commonwealth by the Eminent Persons Group which aims to improve its effectiveness and relevance to some two billion Commonwealth citizens.

Malaysia has a strong record of support for Commonwealth institutions and it is particularly fitting that your former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has been chosen to chair the Eminent Persons Group which will, next year, make recommendations about reform to the member countries”.

Apart from the focus on the Commonwealth and energy policy, the Minister will also have discussions with Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry about UK-Malaysia trade and investment and will visit the British Council to discuss education links between the two countries.

Above: Lord Howell in conversation with adult students taking English classes at the British Council in Kuala Lumpur.